OpenAI CEO Sam Altman argues for accepting some AI harms in exchange for access and benefits
In an interview with POLITICO, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said society should accept some harmful consequences of AI in return for the technology’s benefits and broad public access. He cited major hacks, misuse and scams as risks he would not seek to eliminate at any cost, while saying he would not accept catastrophic risks such as a serious loss of control to AI.
Altman framed the position as a difference between OpenAI’s lighter-touch regulatory stance and Anthropic’s. POLITICO reports that the companies’ public positions have narrowed in recent months: OpenAI has endorsed some stricter state safety laws and a House proposal for outside safety evaluators. The interview records a policy argument, not a new regulation or operational safety commitment.